Gordon Keeps Home Hopes Alive In Virginia

24 Feb 13

American Christopher Gordon kept home hopes flying when he staged a thrilling comeback to beat England's higher-ranked Adrian Waller in the first qualifying round of the Davenport North American Open, the second PSA World Series squash event of the year, in Virginia.

Trailing by two games to one, the 26-year-old from New York hit back to win the fourth game and then clinched a dramatic fifth by a 12-10 margin after 80 minutes of brutal squash on the new courts at the Atlantic Coast Athletic Club in Short Pump, Richmond.

The qualifying finals of the championship, which is celebrating its tenth anniversary in Richmond, move to the glass court at the Westwood Club in Richmond - where Gordon meets Australia's Zac Alexander, who overcame Fred Reid of Canada in just 21 minutes.

Another Canadian who was dismissed in straight games was Andrew Schnell, who suffered traumatic travel difficulties because of a North American blizzard. After several missed flights, he arrived just in time to lose to England's Joe Lee in 36 minutes.